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Indonesia's diplomacy: Putting the ‘rice bowl’ on the table
In a world marked by changing alliances and trust deficits, the intangible assets of diplomacy, while not immediately edible, lay the foundation for sustainable growth.
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Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi speaks before the House of Representatives after legislators approved the draft bill of the Indonesia-EFTA Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (IE-CEPA) in Jakarta on April 9, 2021. (Courtesy of Trade Ministry)
S
andang, pangan, papan (clothes, food, and houses) are considered the fundamental needs of life according to ancient Javanese wisdom, a culture to which President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo belongs.
Rice, a staple food in Javanese culture, naturally finds a place in this proverb. In his recent State of the Nation address, Jokowi challenged this status quo by emphasizing that international collaboration was key to economic growth, which, in turn, improved overall prosperity.
He underscored that economic development was not determined by a singular aspect of policy but by a network of interconnected strategies.
Amid a shifting geopolitical landscape marked by challenges such as the Russian-Ukraine war and lingering United States-China tensions, it becomes imperative to recognize Indonesia's strategic foreign relations endeavors under Jokowi's leadership.
He astutely acknowledges that robust international cooperation is needed to position Indonesia as a key prominent geopolitical player. Such a status affords Indonesia more leverage, ultimately contributing to the nation's prosperity.
Yet, for a nation historically intertwined with intricate domestic concerns, the broader implications of international endeavors are occasionally overlooked.
A segment of the populace, channeling Jokowi's own words, resonates with the sentiment that "trust is inedible".
